The kids don't pay attention to the pets. They don't help with the feeding, watering, grooming, playing, etc. We vigorously put the nix on repeated hounding for hamsters. "They're so cute. We WILL take care of them. Please can we have hamsters?" Most of this coming from nine year old Taylor. So what are we doing sitting here thinking about hamsters? Maybe the kids would take care of something small and cuddly?

We caved in! Two hamsters. JC and Penney. The kids were ecstatic. Both critters (hamsters, not kids) were in the same cage. JC had taken a bite out of Penney's ear on the ride home from the pet store. JC began to really beat up on Penney. The harassment became worse and we finally got another cage. Two hamsters, two cages. Ten days later, we had 10 hamsters. JC was pregnant when we got her!

Two babies died in the first couple of days. The cats were curious. The hamsters were curious. The hamsters got out. The cats got two of the hamsters. We gave some away and were left with four. JC, Penney, Bear and Lucky. JC started beating her offspring. Another cage. Four hamsters, three cages. The kids lost interest.

Bear began beating up on Lucky. Today, we have 13 hamsters. Bear gave birth to nine babies. Yep. Lucky is male. The kids are showing some interest in the babies. We're on the way to the store for another cage.